AN: Thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.
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A great tremour shook the earth, casting great clouds of dust and stone into the air within the city. I, on the other hand, was outside such a place and had a slight smirk upon my lips as many near my person witnessed such a cloud floating high into the air. Yes. I found great enjoyment in such a spectacle, if the soft echoes of my booming laughter gave any indication. For you see, my dear audience, each of my gold Discs are enchanted with a small spell. This spell reveals a series of words etched along the edge, and when spoken aloud, or translated, it reveals a dragon's skull. Upon the other side, however, are a pair of words that have become a favourite saying of mine, "Ego Sum." I am come.
Once the pair of words have been spoken aloud, but only after the first series, will it trigger a miracle or curse. It truly depends upon the heart and mind of the individual. For instance, if they are weak of mind and heart, then a great curse will be bestowed upon the area around them. This could be anything, from a tremour of the earth to the attraction of wild beasts.
However, if the being is strong of heart and mind, then a miracle occurs. Of which could be anything, just like that of the curses. From a few piles of coins appearing around them, or the ability to heal for a set amount of time. In one instance, a small child was able to speak such words and bring back its dead family and friends after witnessing such destruction and slaughter. Though, of course, such a miracle has a great price, and inflicted a curse upon such a child for desiring such a grand miracle. This curse, by the by, transformed it into a Lich, its family and friends into its undead slaves forevermore.
Those around my person were startled by the cloud of dust and stone, rushing off towards the city for curiosity or to simply help. I, on the other hand, trekked back towards our communal tent, and upon entering was immediately surrounded by my Undying and Lich. Shauu and Auua were the first to speak, desiring to enter the city's slums in order to search for the tortured body's base of operations.
Such a thing would take far too long, and I was opposed to such an operation, but did not voice such an opinion. Instead, I simply crossed my arms and stared upon the cloth high above our heads whilst weighing the pros and cons of the whole situation.
"If I may, My Lord God?" Began my Lich, as my eyes turned towards his general direction, whilst my head lowered slowly. At my nod, he continued with, "Their base of operations seem to be located far beneath this city, and the leader is a dark haired Rabbit-kin of some sort."
"This Kin," spoke Shauu, "is always dressed in some grand attire, whereas the others under it are always wearing shabby clothing. It is possible the creature is either a servant, or a noble, and if we were to find such a thing-"
"Then we could find the base rather quickly," finished Auua, whose mouth clamped shut in order to not finish his sentence with "-uuk".
Ah, allow my mind to remind many of you as to why he refuses to speak such a sound after each sentence. It is in order to not incur my ire for such a thing, as I've enough of it after traversing through the worlds surrounding Azzarath. Such as the feline beastfolk and Kin ending each sentence with "Nya", or even replacing words with such a noise in front of them; canines using "Nanodesu", or some such thing has been quite grating on the senses. Thus, I've forbidden such words to be spoken, but not from children.
Imagine, if you will, of a feline, female Kin voicing the word "Nya" all day long. Certainly, such a thing would be considered rather adorable, but only for a time. Now imagine this Kin replacing words such as "That" and "Actually" with "Nyat" and "Nyactually". Again, it would be considered cute or adorable, but if an entire world was populated by such beings who try their best to avoid speaking the actual words, or simply end each and every sentence with this noise, would end up driving anyone mad with rage. Thus is my reason for being against such a thing, and why only children are allowed to speak such a thing. As they are the most likely to grow out of it.
In any case, I made mention of the invitation we had for a party up at the castle. One where all of us, including the dragonfolk were allotted to attend. "This would be an excellent time to search for this Kin, My Lord God," Brutus spoke slowly, inching towards my tail. To which I simply sighed and presented my backside to allow his hands to grip and stroke such a thing.
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No. I could not feel anything during such sessions, but he claimed he could and seemed to enjoy himself. The others simply paid little heed to such an odd behaviour, whereas Siuun, who was climbing around the body of Shauu's Brood Mother, noted such an occurrence and decided to join in on the petting of my tail.
"Very well," my voice released a sigh as the pair behind my person continued with their antics, "Then prepare for such a party. I, on the other hand, will be attending this auction house later this evening. As I desire their slaves for my own, and will be bringing with my person a few of the dwarves and the twins."
*
As the day-star slowly dipped towards the horizon, a fanciful carriage without a cover road through my small market. This caused many of the nearby dwarves to grumble and groan at such a thing, as its hinges and springs squeaked unceasingly as its driver spotted my person entertaining the few children who deigned to stay whilst their family perused my wares. Upon turning to gaze at such a thing, my mind darkened as I noticed a team of eight Draconians being forced to pull it. These eight had chest harnesses of leather and an iron collar which held a strap inside in order to tighten around their necks. This was attached to a long, leather rope which was held by the driver, of which was a somewhat bored, blue and silver furred wolf beastman.
This beastman wore a simple attire of a black suit with a crimson tie around its neck, of which seemed to be rather dirty, even if it was a short ride to my position. Upon turning the carriage's side to my person, eight voices full of anger were choked from the collar about their necks, but halted in their movements nonetheless. "Are ye the uhn who ordered this 'ere carriage?" It asked in a broken language. When I gave my ascent, it simply nodded and opened the small, half door upon its side.
Once I began to make my way forwards, calling out to the twins, Flint, and another pair of dwarves, the children cried loudly and approached my person with eyes full of tears. A few even went as far as to produce their own version of the "Puppy Dog Eyes", of which was a known weakness. However, I steeled myself against such a thing, and stooped low to produce a handful of sweets for these children. This action seemed to placate their minds, as I promised to return and resume the entertainment upon the morrow.
"Our driver seems to be annoyed, Master," whispered Sal'ruum, as his left clawed hand inched towards the long knife hidden beneath his robes.
"Indeed," I replied, not caring at all for the mind of the beastman, as I bid farewell to the last of the children, of whom were a pair of Fox-kins and demanded a hug from my person before departing my side. This action seemed to agitate the other, as it grumbled something about the pay being too good, but I was a right bastard for making it wait.
Shrugging at the muttered comment, I turned to spy my servants' attire. The twins each wore a dark coloured fabric in the shape of a hooded robe. They were each cautioned to make sure to stay covered, so as not to attract far too much attention. As it would cause my person far too much pain if I needed to rescue their persons once more. However, I did manage to have several enchantments of protection etched into the seams of their outerwear. Of which will give them the same translucent barrier which surrounded their bodies during our time in Freeport.
As to the dwarves, they wore a simple attire of dark coloured leathers about their persons with a weapon strapped to their backs. Whereas Flint seemed to have a few tankards about his waist, and a large keg of some sort strapped to his back. When asked why he was bringing such a thing, he replied with, "In case Ah get thirsty."
"Let 'im be, boy," grumbled one of the other dwarves as they climbed in after my person, "'e's one of those 'foody' types."
"Shaddap."